Wonder Woman to be played by Gal Gadot in the Superman blockbuster sequel that has been highly anticipated by fans of the franchise. Very little is known about the upcoming sequel, as it is being kept tightly under wraps, but it seems likely that she will play a larger part in the story line than her role in “Fast and Furious 6,” where she played beside the recently deceased Paul Walker. Rumors have been circulating about the possibility of the Wonder Woman character appearing in this sequel for a long time now.

The speculation is that DC Comics, the creators of the characters, are wanting to set up a possible Justice League blockbuster as an answer to the wildly successful Avengers franchise from Marvel. Actors Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck will play Superman and Batman respectively in the sequel. Cavill re-booted the Superman role in spectacular fashion this summer, but the question on most fan’s mind is whether Affleck is up to the task of being the next Batman after Christian Bale’s successful run as that character.

Most comic book die-hards have demonstrated considerable skepticism about his being cast in the role after watching his depiction of Marvel’s Daredevil character. While most agree that the lukewarm reception that film received was more about the execution of the concept as a whole than about Affleck’s performance, it will take a lot for fans to warm up to him as another favorite icon. It seems fortuitous for him that today’s announcement has been made. With the Wonder Woman role to be played by Gal Gadot in the sequel to this summer’s blockbuster, Superman and Batman may not be on anybody’s mind for some time. Her character has been the subject of speculation, debate, and controversy for many years.

Originally created as an American icon, outfitted in the Stars and Stripes, both the character and costume have undergone several incarnations. As one of the first really strong female main characters in comics, she has been hailed as a feminist icon by many. Many feminists, however, take issue with an icon that prances around in what amounts to lingerie and a smile. Over the years, the costume has evolved to no longer include the eagle on her chest in order to distance the character from an American identity. Wonder Woman comes from an island of Amazons where there are no men allowed at all. That is a far cry from any zip code found in the United States. Despite many attempts to inject the costume with a little more dignity, comic fans have stood firm in their affection for the lingerie look. Chances are that pictures of Gal Gadot in the costume will not do much to convince them to change their minds.

Her selection for the role has come after years and years of anticipation. Rumors of a Wonder Woman movie have been floating around for years, since Lynda Carter played the role on television. Gal Gadot is an inspired choice to be in the Superman sequel because the Wonder Woman character will be played by someone recognizable from a previous blockbuster film, but with no comparable roles to color expectations. If she does well, a feature spin-off seems inevitable.